Óscar Tabárez RSS feedhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/oscar-tabarez
enTabarez keen to move on from Suarez witch-huntUruguay are planning for life without Luis Suarez as Oscar Tabarezaims to put the witch-hunt surrounding his FIFA ban behind them.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-keen-move-suarez-witch-hunt
Suarez will not be available for the Copa America later this year following his nine-match ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's clash with Italy at the World Cup.
Tabarez branded the punishment as "excessive" at the timeand quit his role with FIFA's strategic committee, but he has put the incident behind him.
"I'm not angry," told ca2015.com, the official website of the Copa America. "I can't object to a punishment for a footballer when he has done something that is not permitted in the rules – that's not good.
"But when there's a witch-hunt and one does not respect a person that has made a mistake, that upsets me. But that is a closed case.
"I don't hold any malice towards them [FIFA] and don't want to cause any issues. During the World Cup, I just said what I was feeling at the time, that was how I saw things. But I have a clear conscience and it's something we don’t need to talk about too much now."
While he would like to have the Barcelona forward available for Uruguay'sdefence of the Copa America, Tabarez insiststhey will be able to cope without him.
He added: "We are working to make sure we have a competitive team without Suarez.
"We have played games without him before, like the one against Venezuela [in June 2013] which we had to win to qualify for the World Cup and we won without Suarez then.
"It's the same as asking what happens to Argentina if they don't have [Lionel] Messi. Or which defender would play if Spain didn't have Sergio Ramos.
"Nearly all teams rely on their individuality, but I don't believe Uruguay will lose what they have because Suarez is not there.
"He will only miss the Copa America, but he will be back for the next World Cup and for the qualifying games."
news_articleThu, 12 Feb 2015 11:49:41 +0000342408 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez: Suarez brings extra motivationUruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said he picked the suspended Luis Suarez to ensure the star striker remains in contact with the national team.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/suarez-brings-extra-motivation-tabarez
Barcelona striker Suarez, 27, is banned for another eight competitive internationals, but was selected and could play friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Tabarez explained his decision on Friday and said Suarez, suspended for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, could eventually have his ban reduced.
The 67-year-old coach has signed a contract through to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
"I believe it is important for Luis Suarez to keep in contact and training with the national team despite the ban, not only for him but for the national team overall and his team-mates," Tabarez said.
"We have to see the things positively, because given his circumstances he could be given a ban reduction.
"Eventually at some point of the World Cup qualifying campaign we will have a fantastic addition to the national side in Suarez and we should look at it from that point of view.
"We don't want him to lose contact, even if he can't play officially.
"I have to say that his reinstatement is something which is very important for us. It will be a big moment when Luis Suarez goes back to national team after the World Cup.
"His presence at these games will be an extra motivation, beyond what we always get from him and could help bring us good results."
Tabarez has opted to rest Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, who has struggled early in the season.
Cavani has scored just three goals in eight Ligue 1 matches this season, and Tabarez was unimpressed by his performance in PSG's 3-2 win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
"I thought it was the moment to give Edinson Cavani some rest. I have spoken with him about all of it," Tabarez said.
"We wanted to prevent him from travelling for this game and from playing too many matches. In exchange he will be able to do other kinds of physical work.
"Eventually it is all about how we battle this problem of fatigue. I think we need to decrease the number of matches he has to play and take advantage of this time to work physically, all footballers need that sometimes.
"I can prove this when I watched the game between PSG and Barcelona, Cavani was not at his best and I told him that as well. He is not at his best and he is not scoring goals. If that carries on it could increase the risk of injury.
"We think in these two games we can handle his absence and we can have him back in November when we have two other games."
Uruguay squad:
Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco Da Gama), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Emiliano Velazquez (Getafe), Gaston Silva (Torino), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Mathias Corujo (Universidad de Chile), Egidio Arevalo (UANL Tigres), Diego Arismendi (Nacional), Camilo Mayada (Danubio), Gaston Ramirez (Hull City), Nicolas Lodeiro (Corinthians), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Defensor Sporting), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Christian Stuani (Espanyol), Abel Hernandez (Hull City), Diego Rolan (Bordeaux), Jonathan Rodriguez (Penarol)
news_articleSat, 04 Oct 2014 00:36:26 +0000263075 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez credits Colombia goalkeeper OspinaUruguay coach Oscar Tabarez hailed Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina for resisting his teams late flurry at the Maracana on Saturday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-credits-ospina-colombia-win
Trailing 2-0 to a brace from James Rodriguez in Rio de Janeiro, Uruguay threw everything they had at Colombia in the final 40 minutes but with Ospina inspired in goals, Jose Pekerman's Colombians advanced to their maiden quarter-final at a FIFA World Cup.
With Uruguay having not put a shot on target before half-time in the round of 16 clash, Ospina was made to work much harder in the second half, completing four saves, with a block on Maxi Pereira in the 79th minute particularly telling.
Tabarez claimed the Nice gloveman was the reason his team could not recover.
"We had to take risks to reduce the deficit but we came up against a 'keeper who performed extraordinarily well and didn't let us back into the match," the 67-year-old said.
"But I'm proud of these players. Once again they showed character and gave it their all."
Tabarez also praised Rodriguez for his stunning first-half strike, which put Colombia 1-0 ahead, and conceded Uruguay barely touched the ball in the opening 45 minutes.
In the 28th minute, Rodriguez controlled the ball on the edge of Uruguay's defensive penalty area, swivelled and struck a brilliant volley in off the underside of the bar.
Just five minutes after half-time, Colombia opened up Uruguay's defence with a wonderful cross from Pablo Armero, which Juan Cuadrado nodded down for Rodriguez to notch his fifth goal of the World Cup.
"We knew Colombia had a very good side, one that is able to keep possession and featuring very good players who contribute to the team," he said.
"In the first half, they dictated the tempo and we conceded one of the goals of the tournament. In the second half, we made mistakes and conceded again."
news_articleSun, 29 Jun 2014 00:20:58 +0000202869 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comThe FourFourTwo Preview: Colombia vs UruguayWorld Cup Round of 16 | Rio de Janeiro | Sat 28 Jun | 9pmNick Harperhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwo-preview-colombia-vs-uruguay
Billed as
The new Dark Horses versus the Dark Art Artistes.
The lowdown
The loss of talisman Radamel Falcao to a cruciate ligament injury before these finals began was supposed to be a body blow to Colombia's hopes of fulfilling their potential in Brazil. ‘El Tigre’ plundered a Colombian-record nine goals in qualifying and a nation's hopes rested heavily on his stout shoulders. They figured they still had more than enough firepower to escape Group C, but said it would hinge on them taking something against Greece in the opening game.
Of course we now know that concern to have been a smokescreen, given the way Colombia romped through their group, taking maximum points, scoring at will and playing a brand of attacking football that has stood out even in the most attacking World Cup anyone can remember. They’ve barely noticed the Falcao-shaped hole and have now replaced the uninspiring Belgium as the dark horse of this tournament.
To make good on the promise of the opening stage, they must now beat a Uruguay who generally get the better of them – Colombia have won just one of their last eight encounters, drawing one and losing six. But this is a Uruguay deprived of their own talisman, Luis Suarez. He bit someone, you'll have heard, and has been hit with a nine-game international ban and four-month suspension from all football-related activity.
Unlike Colombia, Uruguay won't easily replace their main goalscorer and inspiration – his replacement will likely be Diego Forlan, who is older than the Diego Forlan you remember and is less effective than a 50% fit Suarez. The Uruguay response to Suarez’s supposedly unjust punishment will be to regroup, beat their manly chests and almost certainly come out fighting. Figuratively and indeed literally.
What the local media say
On the completion of a very impressive group phase, Colombians are dreaming of going far, maybe winning the whole World Cup. "Colombia won the right to dream of glory," chirped golCaracol.com. While in Uruguay, reaching the last 16 was well received. "What accolade! Gooolllll gooolllll ..... ..... Uruguayyyy .... Uruguayyyy nomáaaaa! See you all screaming. Jumping, getting excited, hugging each other. Thousands of Uruguayans Teardrop eyes." So said El Pais, when not banging on about conspiracies.
Key battle: Rodriguez vs Lodeiro/Arevalo Rios
The creative motor behind Colombia's tournament so far, the Monaco midfielder has scored in every game, assisted twice and dominated the key stats on shots, passes and ball recovery. His 3 goals and 2 assists mean he's already been involved in more goals than any other Colombian in World Cup history. Rodriguez has scored in each of his last 5 games for Colombia and his influence on the left of midfield or in the hole behind a striker in a 4-2-3-1 will need to be nullified by whoever can get close enough to kick him.
Facts and figures
Uruguay won their first 5 World Cup games against South American teams but have lost their last 2 – against Brazil in 1970 and Argentina in 1986.
The last 9 encounters between Colombia and Uruguay have produced 32 goals; an average of 3.6 per game, which bodes well.
9 of Colombia’s last 11 goals at the World Cup have been scored in the second-half.
More FFT Stats Zone facts
FourFourTwo prediction
Uruguay's luck to finally run its course: Colombia winning a fierce encounter by the odd goal. 2-1.
Colombia vs Uruguay LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone
featureFri, 27 Jun 2014 22:02:00 +0000Gregg Davies201416 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez quits FIFA role after Suarez banUruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has resigned from FIFAs strategy committee following the decision to ban Luis Suarez for four months.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-quits-fifa-role-after-suarez-ban
The game's world governing bodyhandedSuarez a lengthy suspension from allfootball-related activity on Thursday, with his punishment forbitingItaly defenderGiorgio Chiellini also including a nine-match international ban.
Tabarez must do without the prolific Liverpool strikerwhen his side take on South American rivals Colombia in a last-16 clash at the Maracana on Saturday.
And, speaking on the eve of the game, the 67-year-old revealed that he would relinquish his role with FIFAas a result of the "excessive" punishmentdished out to Suarez.
He said: "In the way they sanctioned him, they showed values and standards very different from what I want to have."
World players' unionFIFPro claimed on Friday statedthat Suarez's ban"infringes his right to work" and Tabarez echoed those sentiments in his press conference at the Maracana.
He added: "To set a good example, you don't need to be so excessive.
"There is a danger in this, and it's too often forgotten that in the centre of this is a person, who has rights."
Tabarez also pointed the finger at the British media for their response to the 27-year-old biting an opponent for a third time.
"The journalists treated it like it was the only relevant theme. I don't know where they were from, but they all spoke English," said Tabarez, who made reference to scapegoats.
He added that he was not condoning Suarez's actions, but again questioned the length of the ban.
"I'm not justifying anything, and I don't think that he shouldn't be punished," Tabarez said.
"With this, who wins? Who loses? Who benefits? Who comes out of persecuted? Who comes out of it best?"
He concluded: "To finish, to Luis Suarez, to Luis Suarez the person, who we know...you're not alone."
news_articleFri, 27 Jun 2014 21:55:06 +0000202262 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez defends Suarez after bite incidentUruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has defended striker Luis Suarez after he was caught up in another biting controversy at the FIFA World Cup.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-defends-suarez-after-bite-incident
Suarez, who has previously bitten opponents while playing for Ajax and Liverpool,was again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons as he appeared to bite Giorgio Chiellini on Tuesday.
The incident overshadowed an important 1-0 win for Uruguay, sealed byDiego Godin's late header, that ensured the South American nation qualified at the expense of Italy, who had Claudio Marchisio dismissed in the 59th minute.
However, Tabarez refused to single out Suarez for criticism, saying he trusted the referee's decision not to take any action.
"I have not seen the pictures but I would also like you look at what happened before. I do not want to talk about it," he said.
"If the referee did not see anything,there is nothing to see. But Suarez is the target of some British press anyway."
Tabarez said he was not worried about potential action from FIFA against Suarez.
"I do not see why he would not play anymoreat the World Cup as you are suggesting," he added.
"If we see he is going to be attacked, which has begun at this press conference, we're going to defend him.
"I'm not going to repeat a response threetimes. I didn't see (an) incident with Suarez. I'm not going to comment.
"This is a World Cup. This is not about cheap morality."
news_articleTue, 24 Jun 2014 19:58:00 +0000199853 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comThe FourFourTwo Preview: Italy vs UruguayWorldCup Group D | Natal | Tue 24 Jun | 5pmMatt Allenhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwo-preview-italy-vs-uruguay
Billed as
Pistols at sundown: a shootout for second round qualification.
The lowdown
It was always going to come down to this: the direct duel between two former World Cup champs for a spot in the second round. Italy can draw to qualify, Uruguay have to win. The twist here is that it's unfancied Costa Rica who go through in first place.
In Brazil, both teams have shown flashes of brilliance, moments of incompetence. Against England, the South Americans were a hair's breadth away from conceding when Wayne Rooney crashed a header into the bar (and should have had a man sent off). They pounced on two lapses in concentration to send Roy Hodgson's team home.
That's their good side. Against Costa Rica they looked bereft of ideas without their game-changing striker, Luis Suarez. Their rearguard was breached by some calamitous defending.
Italy, meanwhile, showed the smarts to dismantle an aggressive England (which might not be as impressive as it once sounded), but lacked the killer instinct to pick off a Costa Rica team with the bit between their teeth.
It will need composed performances from their spine - Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chiellini, Gianluigi Buffon - if they're to prevent Uruguay's hustle and bustle from tipping over the applecart.
What the local media say
"Alvaro Recoba admits Italy and Uruguay face ‘the worst game that could have happened to both’, as he advises on how closely to mark Andrea Pirlo. The Azzurri face off against the Celeste on Tuesday in Natal to take the final qualification spot in Group D at the World Cup to advance to the round of 16. For former Uruguay international Recoba, who spent a majority of his playing career in Serie A, the situation could not have been worse." - Football Italia.
"Suarez admitted that after the first goal he had a feeling of relief, but with the second it was amazing. Before the second goal the Liverpool player said he was cramped in his two legs, but 'something told me to stay in the field. I only have words of gratitude. I'm overwhelmed because I'm back with all my force and all the adrenaline needed for this kind of matches. It's great morally and spiritually.'" - Merco Press.
Key battle: Giorgio Chiellini vs Luis Suarez
Against Costa Rica, the Juventus centre-half had a game to forget, struggling to shackle the work rate of Joel Campbell. A slip from Chiellini followed by a lunge at the forward should have resulted in a penalty.
He will face tougher challenges against a Luis Suarez seemingly auditioning for a move to Spain. His performance against England was eye-catching, as was the subsequent chatter of "suffering" at the hands of English fans who had the temerity to object to racism and assault. How he coped with the horror of all those Player of the Year awards, one can only imagine.
Not that he'll give a hoot. Another match-winning performance here should generate some interesting calls to his agent this summer.
Facts and figures
Italy have managed just 2 wins in 9 previous attempts against Uruguay (including 1980 Copo d’Oro, D4 L3).
Uruguay have faced Italy twice at the World Cup; they failed to score in both matches (D1 L1).
Edinson Cavani has played a hand in 3 of Uruguay’s last 5 goals at the World Cup (2 goals and 1 assist).
More FFT Stats Zone facts
FourFourTwo prediction
Italian savvy to snuff out Uruguayan enthusiasm. 2-1.
Italy vs Uruguay LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone
featureMon, 23 Jun 2014 19:01:00 +0000James Maw198878 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez lauds Uruguays fighting qualitiesOscar Tabarez believes Uruguays battling qualities were the driving force in their 2-1 FIFA World Cup victory over England.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-lauds-uruguay-fighting-qualities
The South Americans looked vulnerable when Wayne Rooney levelled matters in the 75th minute after Luis Suarez's first-half header had given his side the lead.
ButLiverpool star Suarez - making his return after undergoing minor knee surgery just four weeks ago -respondedwith a blistering late strike to earn Uruguay a crucial threepoints.
Tabarez's team lost their Group D opener 3-1 to Costa Rica last Saturday, meaning a win in Sao Paulo on Thursday was vital to their hopes of reaching the last 16.
And the coach was thrilled with the attitude of his players.
"Maybe we do not have a very attractive form of football but we keep fighting. The players love their country," he said.
While Suarez will understandably earn the plaudits for inspiring Uruguay's victory, Tabarez pinpointed his strike partner Edinson Cavani - whose wonderful pass set up the opener - as a key man.
"Cavani did a tremendous job today. He helped neutralise (England captain)Steven Gerrard," he added.
news_articleThu, 19 Jun 2014 21:59:27 +0000196518 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez: Suarez might not be in peak conditionOscar Tabarez has warned Luis Suarez might not be performing to his maximum when Uruguay clash with England in their Group D blockbuster.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-suarez-might-be-underdone
Uruguay are set to be bolstered by the return of star striker Suarez, who has been declared fit for Thursday's game at Arena Corinthians after recovering from surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee.
Suarez's imminent comeback is a big boost, with both sides' knockout-stage hopes at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil hinging on the result.
Tabarez's men were stunned 3-1 by Costa Rica, while Italy accounted for England 2-1.
While the Liverpool striker's return is welcome news, Tabarez said his prolific frontman might be underdone for the match in Sao Paulo.
"If Luis plays tomorrow, we should allow for the fact that he may not be at the level that he is when he is scoring goals in the Premier League," Tabarez told reporters of Suarez, who scored 31 goals during the 2013-14 league campaign.
"But the question that needs to be asked is whether still, it's a player who can make important things for the team or not, and we are defining it in these hours."
The Uruguay coach also revealed his angst regarding England's attacking quartet.
Tabarez pinpointed the threat of Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, as well as captain Steven Gerrard, who he believes are capable of hurting Uruguay.
"I think England played a good game against Italy," he said. "In fact we have discussed in part of our planning, the data we have collected there.
"This is a team that has a lot of attacking quality and has very good players.
"They have four players who play very fast and capable of scoring, with an attitude of playing very direct.
"And a very pragmatic organiser of big game experience and full force in Gerrard, with a defence that is very important in the team attack and all that was showed in the game against Italy."
news_articleThu, 19 Jun 2014 05:02:43 +0000196008 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comWhy England neednt fear UruguayGroup of Death? Rohan Banerjee says Roy Hodgsons men have nothing to fear except fear itself...Rohan Banerjeehttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-england-neednt-fear-uruguay
“We know we’re not among the favourites,” admits the sexagenarian coach. “But we also know that if we prepare well we can be a very difficult team to play against, and that’s going to be at the centre of our thoughts,” the 67-year-old tells the media conference.
Using the skills picked up in a 30-year managerial career which has roamed around dozens of countries and clubs, he gives some line about passion and pays tribute to the players who have made his squad, before refusing to answer any further questions on the ones he’s left out, no matter how much the press pack pushes him.
Roy Hodgson? No, he's not 67 until August 9. The old hand doing his best to manage expectations is Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez. In many ways, it’s the same coy diplomacy we’ve come to expect from the England job, a wily pensioner attempting to reconcile a nation’s chronic case of hope. So, why then, at the announcement of the World Cup groups, weren’t we spared the ignominy of FA chairman Greg Dyke pretending to slit his own throat?
In footballing terms, Uruguay are a country not unlike England. They are haunted by their history and invest themselves almost tribally in the sport. Consider the public outcry when Paul Dummett’s challenge risked keeping Luis Suarez out of the tournament – the Newcastle left-back received death threats because he had seemingly quashed the focal point of their attack. It’s not hard to imagine something similar would have happened had Diego Lugano injured Wayne Rooney or Daniel Sturridge. The English do like to moan.
Dodgy defence
Suarez has since informed the media that he will be fit for Brazil, inciting fresh panic in Fleet Street and gloom among the England fans. But are La Celeste as terrifying as some say?
For all Uruguay’s undeniable prowess going forward – Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Cristian Rodriguez constitute a powerful frontline – there remains the issue of a highly suspect defence. It’s worth noting that they conceded 25 goals in their 16-game qualification, just six fewer than bottom-placed Paraguay. For comparison, England conceded four in their 10 qualifiers, while scoring 31.
Uruguay's vaunted forward line scored 25, meaning that they ended a Brazil-free qualification group with a zero goal difference; having finished fifth, they scraped through via an intercontinental play-off win against AFC minnows Jordan. It’s also worth considering that their 33-year-old captain and first-choice centre-back Lugano has been released by West Brom after only 11 appearances. And he's not even fit for the game.
Meanwhile, full-backs Maxi Pereira and Martin Caceres spend as much time on the overlap as they do in their own half. This might sound dangerous, but Leighton Baines and Glen Johnson are just as determined to attack; shouldn't any England fan worried about Uruguay's counter-attacking realise that Pereira and Caraces are just as susceptible against the counter-pace of Sturridge or Raheem Sterling?
Man-for-man marking
The midfields are pretty even too. Steven Gerrard’s capabilities outstrip both Walter Gargano’s and Egidio Arevalo’s deep-rooted bases, and even if Nicolas Lodeiro does look more of a handful than Jordan Henderson, the former Sunderland man is obviously doing something right considering how crucial he was to Liverpool's title charge. Meanwhile, if Adam Lallana's combination of industry and intelligence were displayed by a player in a Barcelona shirt, it would cause howls of indignation about the shortcomings of English coaching.
Then there's the forward line. Just as the Daily Mail’s online readership is dependent upon Kim Kardashian, Uruguay have a troubling over-reliance on their first-choice attack – something that can be easily undone by fitness and form, as Wayne Rooney has found at previous finals. True, Suarez and Cavani are two of the most potent strikers in the world, but even the best players can have an off-game. And, if England do concede, there is little about Uruguay’s defensive record to suggest that they won’t be able to respond.
Some say the lack of expectation is England's strongest suit, but it will do them no favours to assume an underdog status that doesn’t really apply. Factoring in a wholly winnable game against Costa Rica and a difficult, but not impossible clash with Italy, Dyke’s indiscretion looks all the more untoward. If Group D is indeed the ‘Group of Death’ it surely owes as much to England’s involvement as La Celeste’s.
Still, if Suarez does play well, it’ll probably end up 4-4.
featureWed, 18 Jun 2014 22:00:04 +0000James Maw182435 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comThe FourFourTwo Preview: Uruguay vs EnglandWorld Cup Group D | Sao Paulo | Thu 19 Jun | 8pmNick Moorehttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwo-preview-uruguay-vs-england
Billed as
Last orders, or time for a lock-in…
The lowdown
The World Cup is a brutal beast. You spend four years building state-of-the-art training complexes, conducting root-and-branch investigations into previous failings, and sourcing ergonomic pillows to accrue 0.5% marginal gains – and then you go and narrowly lose the first game. Suddenly, you’re a bad 45 minutes or so away from being as good as out of the tournament.
Having made it to the last 16 in South Africa and the quarter-finals in 2006 with some deeply ordinary sides, it would be galling for England to be ejected from the Brazilian party early with a team that finally seems to possess a little carnival pizzazz. Daniel Sturridge’s finishing, Raheem Sterling’s nifty jigging, Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck’s relentless hustle, Ross Barkley’s brio-packed cameo: England’s performance in defeat against Italy was superior to most of the matches they have actually won in recent tournaments. They were simply outdone by an Azzurri that passed the ball outstandingly and finished clinically, epitomised by the peerless Andrea Pirlo.
Uruguay’s defeat to Costa Rica was an entirely different animal: it was an embarrassment. Having blown their chances to go 2-0 up in the first half, they were awful in the second. Costa Rica deserved credit, of course – and they may too beat England– but the Celeste’s lack of discipline, summed up by Maxi Pereira’s shameful dismissal towards the end, must be a major worry for gaffer Oscar Tabarez. At the moment, his team resemble the outfit that struggled to qualify for this tournament far more than the one that bustled to the semi-finals four years ago.
Can the Three Lions do it when it really counts, however? The apparent fearlessness of their play against Italy certainly seems to suggest they can, and they’re talking the talk too – although it’s a bit rich to hear Sturridge suggest that England “don’t fear” Luis Suarez, a man that he’s spent an entire season eulogising as the absolute terror we all know he is.
But words count for nought in the heat of battle, and England’s recent history suggests that when the pressure is on at a World Cup, either total capitulation or heroic defeat are the default response. If this really is a new-look and fear-free England, now is the time to prove it.
What the local media say
“Suarez knows all the players in the England team; either they are his companions or his rivals. ‘They have defensive weaknesses that we can exploit,’ he says,‘but I won’t tell the press what they are.’ Uruguay must move forward and use its personality, its team spirit, to win.” - El Pais.
Key battle: Luis Suarez vs Phil Jagielka
Will the Premier League’s most notorious evil foreign comedy villain play? Suarez has merely lurked on the sidelines so far this World Cup, but timing is crucial to great theatre, and the Uruguayan mischief-maker and PFA Player of the Year looks likely to take centre stage against his adopted nation. Few would be surprised should he produce a couple of flashes of half-fit genius to pack half his Liverpool team-mates back off home; the scenario is almost written already in our collective consciousnesses – especially if there is an element of underhand jiggery-pokery.
Therein lies half the problem: Suarez lining up – fully fit or not – will be an early psychological dig to an English side who have either watched him outwit all comers, or helped him to do it, over the last season. Jagielka, a fine defender who has built a solid partnership with Gary Cahill, is a prime example: he was powerless to stop the Uruguayan in Liverpool’s 4-0 rout of Everton back in January, and should Suarez be on top form is unlikely to have an answer. Limit him better than the Celeste’s stoppers can cage England’s lively forward line, however, and he might just have done enough.
Facts and figures
England are winless against Uruguay at the World Cup. They’ve met twice: in 1954 (Uruguay won 4-2 in the quarter-finals) and 1966 (0-0).
England recorded their highest ever World Cup pass-completion rate (91%) in the opening match vs Italy (1966-2014).
England have never conceded 2+ goals in 3 successive World Cup games before.
More FFT Stats Zone facts
FourFourTwo prediction
England’s newfound confidence to hold out and give them a 2-1 win.
Uruguay vs England LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone
featureWed, 18 Jun 2014 19:02:00 +0000Gregg Davies194414 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez ready to ring changes against EnglandUruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has suggested wholesale changes could be in the offing for the crunch FIFA World Cup clash against England.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-ready-ring-changes
Both teams came off second best in their opening encounters, but, while England impressed for large parts of their 2-1 reverse to Italy in Manaus, Uruguay were humiliated 3-1 by Costa Rica, despite holding a 1-0 half-time lead against Group D's pre-tournament outsiders.
Luis Suarez is set to return to the starting line-up having completed his recovery from knee surgery, but Tabarez, who is leading Uruguay at the finals for a third time, is not kidding himself that the Liverpool star can instantly cure all of his team's ills.
"We are going to change everything," he told reporters. "We need to win, so do England.
"We have to change our attitude and put different measures in place. And we are aware of that. England were unlucky against Italy.
"Their attackers are very powerful. They have a lot of young players with great potential.
"They are very fast and make quick decisions - they get into the right areas. We will have to look to limit that."
Youngsters such as Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling have captured the imagination since Roy Hodgson's team began their World Cup build-up, with the latter playing a starring role versus Italy.
Nevertheless, Tabarez feels one of the England's more seasoned campaigners could also have a huge influence on the Sao Paulo showdown.
"Steven Gerrard is the thermometer of English football," he added.
"He is a player we cannot neglect. We have to be aware of his power and control it.
"We must position ourselves correctly on the pitch and watch all the big players."
news_articleTue, 17 Jun 2014 15:56:52 +0000194913 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez: Suarez not injured but is unfitUruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said Luis Suarez is no longer injured despite the Liverpool striker staying on the bench against Costa Rica.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-suarez-not-injured-unfit
Suarez sat on the bench throughout Uruguay's 3-1 loss to Costa Rica on Saturday, prompting questions why the talismanic forward was there in the first place.
Tabarez explained Suarez had asked to sit on the bench to feel involved, while the 67-year-old coach insisted the striker would need to improve his fitness considerably to be involved against England on Thursday.
Suarez had surgery on his left knee in the lead-up to Brazil 2014 after injuring his meniscus while training with Uruguay.
"Luis Suarez is no longer injured, because he wouldn't have been a substitute if he was," Tabarez said at his post-match press conference.
"He has gone through the phases that we have foreseen in his recovery and we will have to see if he can find fitness.
"As we said from the beginning, if he meets the challenges, we will see how he can get into the team - and at which point. For us, he is a key player. He has great potential and has a lot to contribute to the team.
"We need him to reach a point where he can play in a match. It was he who demanded to be on the bench, not watching from the stands. It would have been very difficult for him to play though.
"He was a serious doubt, you need to have a certain fitness level - you need to be able to reach the highest standard. There were certain concerns over his fitness and it was very improbable that he would play. We will see about England."
Tabarez also conceded he had been outwitted tactically by Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto.
Uruguay's boss explained that after Costa Rica moved 2-1 ahead, they had let Uruguay keep the ball in areas that would not hurt the Central Americans and then stunned their higher-ranked opponents late in the match to wrap up the win.
"I don't know what Costa Rica's limit is but today they played well," Tabarez said.
"They were tactically better than us, which reflects well on their coach and players. When they took the lead, they gave us space and let us play where we couldn't do them any harm."
news_articleSat, 14 Jun 2014 23:38:52 +0000193021 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comThe FourFourTwo Preview: Uruguay vs Costa RicaWorld Cup Group D | Fortaleza | Sat 14 Jun | 8pmNick Harperhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwo-preview-uruguay-vs-costa-rica
Billed as
The other game. The one that at this point has no real significance. But give it time.
The lowdown
Uruguay go into this tournament with high hopes and lofty ambitions. They take confidence from the fact they won the only previous World Cup held in Brazil, defeating the hosts in the final, even if this was now 64 years ago. As their coach Oscar Tabarez says, "There's no comparison [with 1950]. The world was different then. It was a different Brazil, and Uruguay had a position of power we no longer occupy." So it's of no real significance in 2014, but he's still answering questions about it.
They also go in with high hopes of going deep into the tournament because they possess two of the most feared and admired strikers on the planet in Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, providing the latter is fit.
If he's not, subtract Luis Suarez and add Diego Forlan and revise all predictions downwards. If Suarez is fit, then Uruguay go into this tournament with their eyes on at least escaping Group D at the expense of either Italy or England, because the fixtures might possibly have been generous to them: facing the weakest team first.
Uruguay could head into that crucial second game against England with momentum and the psychological advantage of having three points already in the bag. But then, some will argue that facing a fresh, optimistic Costa Rica who haven't yet been deflated by defeat is a distinct disadvantage. In other words, we're all just guessing.
In almost every other group at this World Cup, the most gifted Costa Rica since 1990 might have had their bar set at the last 16. Here, in a group of three previous World Cup winners, they're there to spoil the party for someone. Defensive-minded but with the legs to counter quickly, they'll be hard to beat and may spring a surprise and inflict a fatal blow on one of the three big guns. But it's unlikely to be against Uruguay.
In every game of the 2012 World Cup, Uruguay had less possession but more shots than the opposition, and reached the semi-finals. They may enjoy more possession against Costa Rica, and have more shots on goal. And if it's Suarez and Cavani taking those shots, they should get off to a winning start.
What the local media say
"Much will depend on how Luis Suarez’s injury heals, for what it means both in football and in morale terms," says Pablo Benitez of Uruguay's El Observador. "Depending on the luck of the draw, they could make the quarter-finals."
Key battle: Suarez and Cavani vs Keylor Navas
Suarez was the top scorer in the South American World Cup qualifiers with 11 goals and had the most shots on target in the last World Cup –15. Cavani is less prolific (six goals in 16 qualifying rounds) but the man who shoots boars in his spare time still poses a terrible threat. Frequently impressive for Levante last season, Costa Rica keeper Navas will need to excel to keep Uruguay's score on nought.
Facts and figures
Uruguay have won 6 and lost 0 of their 8 previous meetings with Costa Rica, most recently beating them 2-1 on aggregate in a 2010 World Cup play-off.
Costa Rica have lost all 3 previous World Cup meetings with South American sides, conceding 9 goals in the process.
But Los Ticos have at least won their opening game in 2 of their previous 3 World Cup tournaments – 1-0 against Scotland in 1990 and 2-0 against China in 2002.
More FFT Stats Zone facts
FourFourTwo prediction
It may not be quick or pretty, but Tabarez's men have the firepower to inflict damage. 2-0 Uruguay.
Uruguay vs Costa Rica LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone
featureFri, 13 Jun 2014 22:02:00 +0000Gregg Davies190660 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comTabarez: Suarez recovery going very wellInjured Uruguay talisman Luis Suarez is going very well, according to coach Oscar Tabarez, as he battles to be fit for the FIFA World Cup.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/tabarez-suarez-going-very-well
Suarez underwent knee surgery on May 22, and is back in training with Tabarez's squad as he races the clock to be fit for Uruguay's Group D opener against Costa Rica on June 14.
But Tabarez said it was so far, so good for the Liverpool striker.
"So far things are going very well, so the plan that was set by the medical team continues," Tabarez said.
"That makes us hopeful that his improvement continues but we don't want to set any deadline or prediction."
Tabarez said Suarez had not yet begun any running on the training pitch, which puts a cloud over him participating in the early stages of the tournament.
"To the extent that he exceeds certain demands he will move on to more demanding training," he said.
"The last thing he did was cycling and aerobic work, he has worked with the elliptical (cross-trainer), which is a step more.
"Depending on how he responds we will see if he will be in condition to take the pitch to walk or run."
Tabarez said his squad had prepared well ahead of their opening match in Fortaleza.
"There are still three training sessions before leaving on Monday and I think... we will arrive in Brazil in good condition," he said.
news_articleSat, 07 Jun 2014 05:17:02 +0000187881 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com